Checklist When Eating and Drinking in Cebu

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Cebuanos are truly proud of their local cuisine. From their tender calamari cooked to perfection to their crispy and tasty lechon, Cebuanos bring a lot of distinct and appetizing flavors to the table, which makes eating and drinking in Cebu the perfect activity for those who enjoy great food. Here are some must-try’s when visiting Cebu City:

Seafood – Cebu is famous for the sumptuous and fresh seafood. The surrounding waters of Cebu are rich in tuna, oysters, crabs, prawns, lobsters, squid, scallops and practically anything you would like to order in a seafood restaurant. Mind you, these underwater delicacies are assuredly fresh, and that will delight all seafood lovers.

Lechon – Lechon is prepared meat cooked in a pit full of charcoal. It is practically the most popular dish in the Philippines and the Cebuanos reinvented it by making it with their own twist called Lechong Baboy Cebu or Roasted Pork. The dish is prepared by removing the pig’s insides such as blood and entrails then stuffing the pig with special herbs, spices and vegetables. The pig is then roasted over a pit full of burning charcoal. This dish will take hours to cook. A fiesta or a feast in the Philippines is never complete without a Lechon.

Dinuguan – The direct translation of Dinuguan is “pork blood stew”, which is also known in another Filipino dialect as Dinardaraan. This dish is a Filipino favorite consisting of freshly slaughtered pork blood, pork belly meat, pork entrails that are simmered with chili, garlic and vinegar. We know what you’re thinking: sounds disgusting, right? But Dinuguan still remains a favorite Filipino dish to many. So if you’re feeling a little adventurous, this dish might just be the thing for you to try.

Kinilaw – Kinilaw is basically any raw seafood or raw meat mixed with vinegar, kalamansi juice, onions, tomatoes, ginger, tiny chilies and local seasoning. There are different versions to the dish depending on where your area is, which makes eating and drinking in Cebu that much more exciting. You’ll be able to taste some exotic mixtures that will surely give your taste buds a unique experience.

Signature cocktails – The nightlife in Cebu is simply spectacular. Cebuanos seem to know how to party until the wee hours of the morning on any given night. The seedier go-to dance clubs are concentrated on General Maxilom, which was previously known as Mango Avenue. The Banilao Road, on the other hand, houses small and intimate clubs which cater to more techno and house music. Some of the nightclubs, bars and karaoke boxes carry signature cocktails that look amazing and taste even better. Enjoy a cold beer by the beach or sip a cocktail along Mango Avenue as you drink like the locals do for that ultimate Cebu experience.

Saying that you never got the chance to taste any of these dishes and drinks is like saying you have never visited Cebu at all. So ready your tummies and clean your palates as you discover how eating and drinking in Cebu is, Cebuano-style.

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